The Insider's Guide: Kaiārahi / Family Court Navigators
22 / 6 / 26
4 min
Hi, I'm Geoff, and this is The Insider's guide to how Kaiārahi can help you navigate the Family Court.
So people's perception of the family court when they arrive to us, they just have a lack of understanding, they've either received papers in the mail, or they're being sued by bailiffs. And when they read them, it's a really difficult document to read. So we as Kaiārahi are there and have the ability to sit down and talk to people and read that through with them and explain what's happening.
We have the ability to sit in the court beside them and just to support people. We're also there to encourage people to speak up whilst in the court, when the judge says, do you understand? And if you don't understand, we encourage people to say that they don't understand. That way the judge can break it down even further. What we do offer, and we're really good at it, is listening and understanding, hearing what's happening.
And then we can weigh up the situation. Where, whether we need to seek legal advice, whether we need to refer them to such places as Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Law Centres or, family services that have legal teams with them. So whilst we can't give you legal advice, we can certainly refer you onto those legal teams. If you don't speak English very well, that's no problem at all.
We have lots of people in our team who speak various languages. We also have interpreter services available. And you’re also welcome to bring a support person with you when we meet. So a support person that you can bring can be anybody. It could be a community provider that you're dealing with that is supporting you. Some people bring their pastor along from the church or they'll bring a friend along.
They are more than welcome to bring anybody, but it's important to say that we are not a crisis service, which means we are not always available immediately. So whilst you can call us or come and chat to us in a Family Court, the best way to get in touch is via email. Just send us a quick message to let us know who you are, your phone number and a quick overview of your situation.
We'll then get in touch with you and arrange a time to meet. Family Court can be a difficult environment to navigate and whilst we can't offer legal advice, we pride ourselves on listening and understanding what's happening to you and then providing you with useful information that will hopefully help you get a bit closer to the outcome that you need.
And alleviate some of the stress and worry that you might be going through. A lot of the people we talk to are often feeling overwhelmed by the thought of going to court, and all of the legal information that you will need to understand. So we are here to help you navigate your way through each of those steps required.
If you are watching this video and going through a stressful time with the Family Court, I strongly encourage you to get hold of a Kaiārahi. This is our job. This is what we do. We have the ability to listen, understand and work out a situation for the Family Court matter that you're dealing with. Honestly, there's someone here who cares about you.
PG
Description
Family Court Navigators, or Kaiārahi, assist individuals and whānau (families) to navigate the Family Court system in Aotearoa New Zealand. Kaiārahi provide free, culturally responsive support, helping clients understand court processes, access community services, and remain engaged in proceedings. They do not offer legal advice but serve as a vital link between the community and the court, aiming to improve family justice outcomes by empowering families to make informed decisions.
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The easiest way is to email Kaiarahi@justice.govt.nz with a bit of information about your situation and what you are wanting assistance with, and someone will come back to you via email or with a phone call if you prefer. You can arrange to meet with a Kaiārahi in person to work through what you need support with. You can also call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787) and ask for a Family Court Navigator, or you can ask in-person at the service desk of your local courthouse.
While Kaiārahi do not give legal advice, they can help you:
• understand the language, processes and outcomes of Family Court proceedings.
• where appropriate, access out-of-court services and support in the community to help you reach agreement about the care of your children
• remain engaged and involved in any Family Court proceedings by working to address any barriers that are preventing you from participating
• with your agreement, connect you with other agencies and services in the community to support you as needed.
No, these services are free of charge.
Yes, all information you share with a Family Court Navigator will remain confidential.
There are Kaiārahi around the country who speak a variety of languages and will do their best to find someone to support you. If no one is available, there are translation services available, or you are welcome to bring a support person with you who can help to translate for you.
